Overview
The V-(으)라고 / V-라고 sentence ending is a crucial component of indirect quotation in Korean, specifically used for verbs. It allows speakers to report commands, requests, or statements about actions that were previously made by someone else. Unlike direct quotation, which uses the exact words, indirect quotation paraphrases the original statement, integrating it into the speaker's own sentence structure.
Usage
This grammatical pattern serves two primary functions:
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Quoting Imperative Sentences (Commands/Requests): This is its most common and direct application. When someone tells another person to do something, you use V-(으)라고 / V-라고 to report that command or request.
- Example: "가세요." (Go.) -> "가라고 했어요." (He told me to go.)
- Example: "책을 읽어라." (Read the book.) -> "책을 읽으라고 했어요." (He told me to read the book.)
It is often followed by verbs like 하다 (to do/say), 말하다 (to speak/say), 부탁하다 (to ask a favor), 명령하다 (to order).
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Quoting Declarative Sentences (Statements about Actions/Intentions): While less common than its use for imperatives, V-(으)라고 / V-라고 can also be used to quote declarative sentences, particularly when the original statement expresses an intention, a plan, or a general statement about an action that someone should or will do. In this context, it often carries a nuance similar to "saying that X should be done" or "saying that X will be done."
- Example: "내일 갈게요." (I'll go tomorrow.) -> "내일 가겠다고 했어요." (He said he would go tomorrow.) - Note: For simple future/declarative, -겠다고 or -ㄴ/는다고 is more common. However, -라고 can sometimes be used if it implies a suggestion or instruction.
- Example: "이것을 먼저 하세요." (Do this first.) -> "이것을 먼저 하라고 했어요." (He said to do this first.) - Here, the original is imperative, so it fits the first case.
- A more specific declarative use: When someone states a rule or a general truth that implies an action. For instance, if a sign says "쓰레기를 버리지 마시오" (Do not litter), you might report it as "쓰레기를 버리지 말라고 해요" (It says not to litter).
It's important to distinguish V-(으)라고 from V-(ㄴ/는)다고. While V-(ㄴ/는)다고 is for general declarative statements, V-(으)라고 specifically focuses on actions being commanded, requested, or stated as something to be done.
Conjugation Rules
The conjugation of V-(으)라고 / V-라고 depends on the final consonant or vowel of the verb stem:
- If the verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ (ri-eul): Add -라고.
- 가다 (to go) -> 가 + 라고 = 가라고
- 보다 (to see) -> 보 + 라고 = 보라고
- 만들다 (to make) -> 만들 + 라고 = 만들라고 (The ㄹ is treated as a vowel ending for this rule)
- If the verb stem ends in a consonant (excluding ㄹ): Add -으라고.
- 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹 + 으라고 = 먹으라고
- 읽다 (to read) -> 읽 + 으라고 = 읽으라고
Irregular Verbs:
- ㄷ irregular verbs (e.g., 듣다, 걷다): The ㄷ changes to ㄹ before a vowel sound. Since -으라고 starts with a vowel, ㄷ changes to ㄹ.
- ㅂ irregular verbs (e.g., 돕다, 춥다): The ㅂ changes to ㅜ (or ㅗ for 돕다) before a vowel sound.
- 돕다 (to help) -> 도우라고
- 춥다 (to be cold) -> 추우라고 (though less common to quote "be cold" as a command)
- ㅅ irregular verbs (e.g., 낫다): The ㅅ drops before a vowel sound.
Knowledge Plus
- Commonly Used with '하다': This ending is almost always followed by a verb like 하다 (to say/do), 말하다 (to speak/say), or 부탁하다 (to ask a favor). For example, "가라고 했어요" (He told me to go).
- Negative Commands: To quote a negative command ("Don't do X"), you use -지 말라고.
- "가지 마세요." (Don't go.) -> "가지 말라고 했어요." (He told me not to go.)
- Requests vs. Commands: While it can quote both, the nuance often depends on the context and the following verb. "부탁했어요" (asked a favor) implies a request, while "명령했어요" (ordered) implies a command.
- Distinction from V-(ㄴ/는)다고: Remember that V-(ㄴ/는)다고 is for quoting general declarative statements (e.g., "He said he is going"), whereas V-(으)라고 is for quoting commands or statements about actions to be taken (e.g., "He told me to go").
- Politeness Levels: The original politeness level of the quoted sentence is typically lost in indirect quotation, as the reporting verb (e.g., 하다) will determine the politeness of the overall sentence.